HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014 07-08 HPB Meeting Minutes RegularAGENDA
EDINA HERITAGE PRESERVATION BOARD
REGULAR MEETING - ANNUAL SUMMER TOUR
SAVORY GARDENS - 5300 WHITING AVENUE
TUESDAY, JULY 8, 2014, 6:00 P.M.
CALL TO ORDER
II. ROLL CALL
III. SUMMER TOUR: Savory Gardens & Lundgren Built (Midcentury Modern) Homes
in Neighborhood
IV. OTHER BUSINESS: None
V. CORRESPONDENCE AND PETITIONS: None
VI. CHAIR AND BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS
VII. NEXT MEETING DATE: August 11, 2014 (MONDAY)
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
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MINUTES
Regular Meeting of the
Edina Heritage Preservation Board
ANNUAL SUMMER TOUR
Savory Gardens Neighborhood - 5300 Whiting Avenue
Tuesday, July 8, 2014
6:00 p.m.
I. CALL TO ORDER 6:00 P.M.
11. ROLL CALL
Answering roll call was Vice Chair Weber and Members Moore, Mellom, O'Brien,
Christiaansen, and McLellan. Absent were Members Birdman, Sussman, McDermott, student
members Brandt and Johnson. Staff present was Senior Planner, Joyce Repya.
III. 2014 SUMMER TOUR - Savory Gardens, 5300 Whiting Avenue & the
"Lundgren" Midcentury Modern Style homes in the surrounding
neighborhood.
Savory Gardens, a long standing nursery business nestled into a residential neighborhood
harkens back to the days when Edina was dotted with vegetable and hobby farms. In 1946, the
Savory family purchased 12 acres of land in the area, and even though much of their property
was sold off for residential development, the family continued to maintain their homestead and
the nursery business.
Savory Gardens is a treasure in Edina that few people are aware of. Specializing in hybrid
hostas, they have made a name nationally for growing the number of species from just 20 to
over 2,000 varieties. Mrs. Arlene Savory shared her reminiscence of the family business and the
growth she has seen in the neighborhood over the years. Board members agreed that a visit to
Savory Gardens should be on all Edinan's "to do" lists.
After visiting with Mrs. Savory, the tour continued through the surrounding neighborhood on
Whiting Avenue and West 64`h Street where there are a large concentration of homes (many
Mid -Century style) built during the 1960's by Lundgren Contemporary, Inc.. Lundgren built
many homes throughout Edina, which typify the post war construction that was prevalent
during the period when Edina experienced unprecedented residential growth. Barry Lundgren,
the builder's son resides in one of his father's homes at 5330 Whiting Avenue, and the board
had the good fortune to have Barry and his wife Karen lead the Lundgren house tour when he
shared reflections on his dad's business and the impact it had on Edina's residential landscape.
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Edina Heritage Preservation Board
Minutes
July 8, 2014
Barry and Karen also generously opened their home to the tour group where they pointed out
architectural features that were unique to the style of homes his father built. Some of those
features included stone floors in the entry way, open stairs, redwood ceilings, and sliding patio
doors (which in the 1960's had to be shipped from California.)
The tour ended at the home of Member Christiaansen, which is one of the "Lundgren" homes
featured on the tour. Many of the Midcentury Modern features identified in Barry and Karen
Lundgren's home were evident in the Christiaansen's home as well.
As the tour ended, the board agreed that walking a neighborhood provided a valuable
perspective one doesn't experience when reading reports and viewing photos and maps. A
special thanks was offered to Member Christiaansen who coordinated the tour. And finally, the
board agreed that they looked forward to the 2015 summer tour, wherever in Edina it may be.
IV. OTHER BUSINESS - None
V. CORRESPONDENCE & PETITIONS - None
VI. XI. NEXT MEETING DATE August I Ith (MONDAY)
VII. X11. ADJOURNMENT 8:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Joyce Repya
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